People who know me well, call me Elizabeth. I dislike Liz.

I fell off my pink cloud with a thud.

Some of my best leading men have been dogs and horses.

I sweat real sweat and I shake real shakes.

You find out who your real friends are when you’re involved in a scandal.

When people say, ‘She’s got everything’, I’ve got one answer – I haven’t had tomorrow.

Everything makes me nervous – except making films.

I’ve been through it all, baby, I’m mother courage.

I’ve always admitted that I’m ruled by my passions.

Marriage is a great institution.

I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be opened, and I’m not afraid to look behind them.

So much to do, so little done, such things to be.

I haven’t read any of the autobiographies about me.

I’m a survivor – a living example of what people can go through and survive.

I suppose when they reach a certain age some men are afraid to grow up. It seems the older the men get, the younger their new wives get.

I really don’t remember much about Cleopatra. There were a lot of other things going on.

I have a woman’s body and a child’s emotions.

I think I’m finally growing up – and about time.

She seemed to be lovely still to herself, as if no amount of looking into mirrors could ruin her illusion.

The rain hit the windows like rice; the fire roared hollowly; the autumn afternoon discoloured into darkness.

Big girls need big diamonds.

I am a very committed wife. And I should be committed too – for being married so many times.

Julia poured tea gracefully, but it all ran over into the saucers.

The day comes in slowly to those who are ill. The night has separated them from the sleepers, who return to them like strangers from a distant land, full of clumsy preparations for the living,...

It’s not the having, it’s the getting.

I don’t pretend to be an ordinary housewife.

It is strange that the years teach us patience; that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting.

I don’t entirely approve of some of the things I have done, or am, or have been. But I’m me. God knows, I’m me.

I’ve only slept with men I’ve been married to. How many women can make that claim?

I don’t think President Bush is doing anything at all about Aids. In fact, I’m not sure he even knows how to spell Aids.

My mother says I didn’t open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw was an engagement ring. I was hooked.

It is very strange that the years teach us patience – that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting.

Success is a great deodorant.

If someone’s dumb enough to offer me a million dollars to make a picture, I’m certainly not dumb enough to turn it down.

The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues.

I adore wearing gems, but not because they are mine. You can’t possess radiance, you can only admire it.